Adjusting means for rotatable marking heads



April 12, 1949. R. E. J. NORDQUIST 3 ADJUSTING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE MARKING HEADS Filed July 19, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS April 12,, 1949. R. E. J. NORDQUIST 2,466,732

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE MARKiNG HEADS 5 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed July 19, 19

' INVENTOR. 3W

ATTORNEYS April 12, 1949. R. E. J. NORDQUIST I 2,466,732

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE MARKING HEADS Filed July 19, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEYS April 12, 1949. R. E.J. NORD QU| ST 2,466,732

' ADJUSTING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE MARKING HEADS Filed July 19., 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

7 Mg 77:52:41 BY 28 v A TTO EN EYS April 1949- R. E. J. NCRDQUIST 2,466,732

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE MARKING HEADS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 19, 1945 INVENTOR.

ATToRNY's Patented Apr. 12, 1949 ADJUSTING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE MARKING HEADS Ronald E. J. Nordquist, Maplewood, N. J assignor to American Can Company, New Yor N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 19, 1945, Serial No. 606,004

11 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a marking mechanism for a machine for marking container or can parts by way of cooperatin rotating heads carrying marking elements between which the container or can parts are interposed for marking and has particular reference to devices for aligning the marking elements in the heads for proper cooperation during the marking operation.

An object of the invention is the provision of a marking mechanism having rotatable heads carrying markin elements for cooperation in marking can parts wherein the marking heads may be shifted relative to each other into a predetermined position to align the marking elements in the heads for proper cooperation one with the other during the marking operation to produce clean cut marks on the article being marked.

Another object is the provision of such a mark-, ing mechanism wherein separate housings are provided for the actuating shafts of the marking heads and one of the housings floats relative to the other so that relative movement may be obtained between the housings for bringing the marking elements of the heads into proper marking alignment.

Another object is the provision of a marking mechanism of this character wherein accurate shifting of one housing relative to the other may be obtained through a plurality of shifting devices designed to shift the floating housing in any desired direction for aligning the marking elements in the heads.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a marking mechanism embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away and parts shown in section and with a can end in place to be marked;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away and parts shown in section; I i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail in vertical section taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in vertical section taken substantially along the line. 5-5 in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially along the lines 66 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially along the broken line 1-1 in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of a gear element shown near the top of Fig. 7.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate a marking mechanism for embossing or impressing into sheet metal can ends A a desired mark or indicia such as those'used in the can making and packing industries. The mechanism may form a part of a more elaborate machine and is equally well adapted to printing and other marking operations and to apply such mark or indicia to numerous articles other than can ends.

Embossing of the can ends is effected preferably by a pair of rotary marking heads I I, I2 (Figs. 1 and 6) between which the can ends pass as the heads rotate to perform the markin operation. During this passage between the marking heads, the can ends are supported in a'pair of spaced and parallel tracks or guide rails l4, l5 disposed adjacent the marking mechanism and secured to the machine to whichthe mechanism is attached. The can ends are propelled along these tracks in any suitable manner in time with the rotation of the marking heads.

The marking is done by type elements or blocks I6 which are carried in the marking heads. These type elements are interchangeable and are disposed in easily removable carrier blocks I! so that any desired mark may be used in the same mechanism. The type in one head is of raised character while those in the other head are recessed for cooperation in embossing the mark in the can ends. For satisfactory results the type elements in both heads must align almost perfectly so thatthe raised type will fit properly into the recessed type as the heads rotate. It is to this feature that the instant invention is particularly directed. 1

i The marking heads ll, l2 are disposed prefer- -ably one above the other and are carried on the inner ends of a pair of rotatable spaced and substantially parallel shafts l8, I9 (Fig. 6) respectively. The lower shaft I8 is journaled in a stationary -or fixed bearing 22 which is formed integrally with and is located within a hollow fixed housing 23. The shaft is confined within its bearing against longitudinal movement by a collar 24 formed on the inner end of the shaft and by a bevel gear 25 which is keyed to the outerend of the shaft.

The lower head shaft 8 is continuously rotated by a bevel gear 2'! which meshes with the bevel gear 25 on the shaft. The gear 2! is disposed within the housing 23 and is mounted on the upper end of a vertical drive shaft 28. This shaft is driven in any suitable manner and is journaled in a bearing block 29. The bearing block is disposed within and is secured to a hollow cylindrical base 3| which depends from and is formed on the fixed housing 23.

The base 3| (Fig. 6) is carried in a bracket 32 which constitutes a part of the machine frame and which extends out from the machine to which the marking mechanism is attached and provides a frame support in which the fixed housing 23 may be manually rotated when desired to bring the marking heads l2 out into the open for changing of the type elements l6. This feature is particularly desirable when the marking mechanism is located in a crowded portion of the machine. Flanges 33, 34 on the fixed housing base 3| confine the housing in the bracket and suitable means such as for example a pin 35 are provided for locking the housing in its operative position.

The upper head shaft I9 is journaled in a bearing sleeve 4| which is carried in a bore 42 formed in a floating or movable housing 43 disposed within the fixed housing 23 and located just above the lower head shaft bearing 22. One end of the bearing sleeve 4| is threadedly engaged in the floating housing and is provided with spanner wrench holes 44 for manual rotation of the sleeve in the housing.

Hence by turning the bearing sleeve 4| in the floating housing 43, the sleeve and the head shaft l9 carried therein are shifted longitudinally of the floating housing and thus the upper marking head I2 is shifted longitudinally of the lower marking head Through such a turning of the bearing sleeve 4| the type elements |6 may be brought into accurate alignment for proper cooperation during the marking operation as hereinbefore mentioned. The upper head shaft [9 is confined in its bearing sleeve 4| against longitudinal displacement therefrom during this shifting movement by a collar 46 which is formed on the inner end of the shaft and by a gear plate 41 which is keyed to the outer end of the shaft.

The upper head shaft I9 is rotated in synchronism with the lower head shaft l8 and in the opposite direction by a spur gear (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) which is fixedly mounted on the gear plate 41. A plurality of cap screws 52 in the plate hold the gear in place. This gear meshes with and is driven by a gear 53 which is fixedly mounted on the lower head shaft driving gear 25. Bolts 54 lock the gears 25 and 53 together in a unitary structure. It is through this gear train that the two shafts are rotated in unison and in the desired opposite directions.

Provision is unade for rotatively shifting the upper head shaft l9 relative to the lower head shaft |8 to advance or retard the upper shaft for bringing the type elements |B into alignment in radial and circumferential directions for proper cooperation during the rotation of the marking heads I I, I2. For this purpose the gear plate 41 carries a shouldered stud 56 which is rotatively mounted in the plate. The inner end of the stud is formed with an eccentric pin 51 which extends into an elongated recess 58 formed in the upper head shaft drive gear 5|. The outer end of the stud carries a lock nut 59. This end of the stud is formed with a stud turning slot 6|. I

Hence by loosening the locking cap screws 52 circumferential position relative to those in the lower head I This rotation of the head may be in 'a direction which will advance its type elements l6 relative to the lower head type elements or in the reverse direction when the adjusted type elements may be said to be retarded relative to the lower type elements. After such a shifting of .the head shaft the stud 53 is locked by the lock nut 59 against further movement and the cap screws 52 are tightened to secure the gear 5| to the plate 41 in this shifted or adjusted position.

The floating housing 43 is pivotally mounted relative to the fixed housing 23 and is movable in three directions to facilitate alignment of the type elements l6 in the upper head l2 with those in the lower head Such a pivotal mounting is brought about through a pair of short pivot shafts 55 (Figs. 4, 5 and 7) which are carried in a pair of spaced bearings 66 formed in the fixed housing 23. These shafts are located one on each side of the fixed housing and are in line with the gears 5|, 53 at their place of engagement so that shifting of the floating housing 43 will have a minimum effect upon the continued meshing of the gears.

The outer ends of the pivot shafts 65 are formed with eccentric pins 61 which carry bodily movable self-aligning ball bearings 68 which constitute in effect a universal joint connection on the fixed housing 23 for supporting the floating housing 43 (Figs. 1, 4 and 7). The ball bearings are held in place by washers 69 and lock nuts threadedly secured to the ends of the pivot pins. These ball bearings are disposed in cages 12, '13 located outside the fixed housing bearings 86 and formed on the outer ends of a pair of support arms 15 which extend out in opposite directions from the floating housing 43. The ball bearing in the cage 32 is free to shift in an axial direction while that in the cage 13 is clamped in position by a stop shoulder 16 formed on the cage and by a retainer nut ll threadedly engaged in the cage.

Thus by partially turning the pivot shafts 55 in unison in their bearings 56 the eccentric pins 31 on the shafts may be raised or lowered and hence the ball bearing cages I2, 13 and the floating housing 43 supported thereon may be raised or lowered to efiect the desired alignment of the type elements It in the heads l2. Such an adjustment also compensates for a variation in thickness of the material of the can ends A bein marked. This Shifting of the floating housing affects only the outer end of the housing, the inner end being separately movable to properly align the upper head shaft as will be hereinafter explained.

Turning of the pivot shafts 65 is brought about preferably by a yoke 8| (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5) which is formed on the inner ends of the pivot shafts. There are two yokes, one for each pivot shaft.

These yokes engage with a pair of spaced and aligned eccentric discs 82 which are formed on the outer ends of an eccentric shaft 83 disposed transversely of the floating housing 43. The shaft is carried in a half bearing 84 formed in or constituting a fixed part of the housing and is held in place by a half-cap 85 bolted to the bearing. The shaft is retained against endwise displacement by a collar 86 which is formed on the shaft and which is confined in a recess 81 formed in the half cap.

, Adjacent one of the eccentric discs 82, the eccentric shaft 83 carries a worm wheel 9I which meshes with a worm 92 formed on the lower end of a vertical pin 93 carried in a bore 94 in the floating housing 43. The upper end of the pin is formed with a retaining collar 9'5 which is seated in a recess 96 in the housing. This holds the .pin in place. A cap 91 surrounds the upper end of the pin and is bolted to the housing to prevent lifting of the pin. The extreme upper end of the pin is provided with a turning slot 98 for a screw driver or similar tool.

Hence by turning the pin 93, the worm 92 and worm wheel 9| are rotated and this revolves the eccentric shaft 83 and the eccentric discs '82 in the yokes 8 I. Through such a turning action the outer end of the floating housing 43 may be shifted into the desired position, as hereinbefore mentioned. After such a shifting action the pin 93 is locked against further turning by a setscrew II. This setscrew is threadedly engaged 'in a bore I 02 formed in the floating housing. The inner end of the screw is formed with a long extension I03 which engages against a side of the pin 93, when the latter is adjustably screwed in. r

The inner end of the floating housing 43 may be raised or lowered by way of a horizontal tapered screw I (Figs. 4 and 6) which is threadedly engaged in a bore I06 formed in the housing. The screw may be manually turned from the inner end of the mechanism. The tapered portion of the screw rests on a hardened locating pin I01 which is secured in the top of the bearing 22 of the lower head shaft I8. The pin extends up through a slot I08 formed in the floating housing.

This inner end of the floating housing 43 is maintained in engagement with the locating pin In! by a compression spring III which provides a yieldable backing for the floating housing 43. The spring is interposed between the top of the floating housing and a plug II2 disposed in a locating bore II3 which extends through a boss I I4. This boss is formed on the upper ends of a pair of arch shaped arms H5 which extend up from the fixed housing 23 (see Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 7). The pressure ofthe spring on the floating housing may be increased or decreased by way of a setscrew H6 which is threadedly engaged in the bore I I3 and which operates against the plug II2.

Hence when a can end A is in position between the marking heads II, I2 during the marking operation, the spring III controls the amount of pressure exerted on the can end. Thus there is a yielding action between'the fixed housing and the floating housing and this results in a clean cut mark in the can end. The amount of yielding action is limited by a lock screw 8 which is threadedly engaged in the boss I I4 adjacent the setscrew I I 6 and the spring II I. The lock screw is set so that its lower end is in spaced relation, by the desired amount, to a stop lug II9 formed on the floating housing 43. This lug engages the screw when the floating housing yields and thus arrests further yielding action to insure proper embossing of the can ends, as mentioned above.

The floating housing 43 is movable laterally of 6 the mechanism in a horizontal plane to facilitate the third dimension alignment of the type elements IS in the marking heads II, l2. This lateral movement is effected preferably by a' pair of eccentric discs I2I (Figs. 1 and 2)' which are located one on each side of the inner end of the floating housing and which engage against the housing (see also Fig. 3). These eccentric discs are formed on the inner ends of long bolts I22 which are carried in bosses I23 formed in the fixed housing '23. A look nut I24 is provided on the threaded end of each bolt While the other end is formed with a head I25.

Hence by slightly loosening the lock nuts I24, the bolts I22'may be turned in their bosses I23 by a wrench or other tool applied to the bolt heads I25. This turns the eccentric discs I2I against the sides of the floating housing and thus shifts the floating housing laterally in relation to the fixed housing. This lateral movement or swinging of the floating housing takes place through the self-aligning ball bearings 68 on the housing pivot shafts 35 but does not affect any other position of the housing. After such a movement of the housing the eccentric discs I2I are lacked in position by tightening of the lock nuts With such a construction of floating housing for the marking mechanism, the upper head shaft I9 and its marking head I2 may be shifted in five different directions relative to the lower head shaft I8 and its marking head II In this manner almost perfect alignment of the type elements IS in the heads may be obtained. Thus it will be seen that compensation for variation in the thickness of the material of the can ends to be marked is an easy matter.

Two of these movements, namely radial movement and longitudinal movement of the upper marking head, are brought about through direct shifting of the upper head shaft itself. The three others, namely, pivotal, vertical and lateral movements of the floating housing 43 are brought about through the shifting of the floating housing. By means of these five movements the upper head shaft I9 and its marking head I2 may be accurately shifted in any direction to bring about the desired proper alignment of the type elements in the head so that clean cut marks may be produced in the can ends A.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment therof.

I claim:

1. In a marking mechanism for a machine for marking container parts, the combination of a pair of rotatable marking heads carrying cooperating marking elements for marking a container part interposed between said heads, a pair of spaced shafts for supporting and rotating said heads, a universally movable floating housing for supporting one of said shafts, and a movable sleeve surrounding said supported shaft and carried in said floating housing for shifting said supported shaft longitudinally relative to the other shaft and said housing for aligning the marking elements in said heads.

2. In a marking mechanism for a machine for marking container parts, the combination of a pair of rotatable marking heads carrying cooperatingmarking elements for marking a container part interposed between said heads, a pair of spaced shafts for supporting and rotating said heads, a fixed housing for supporting one of said shafts, a pivotally mounted floating housing for supporting the other of said shafts in predetermined relation to the shaft in said fixed housing, eccentric pivot means for said floating housing, and means for rotating said eccentric pivot means for bodily moving said floating housing in a plurality of directions toward and away from said fixed housing for aligning the marking elements in the head of said floating housing with the marking elements in the head of said fixed hous- 3. In a marking mechanism for a, machine for marking container parts, the combination of a pair of rotatable marking heads carrying cooperating marking elements for marking a container part interposed between said heads, a pair of spaced shafts for supporting and rotating said heads, a fixed housing for supporting one of said shafts, a floating housing for supporting the other of said shafts in a predetermined relation to the shaft in said fixed housing, eccentric pivot means carried by said floating housing adjacent one end thereof for pivotally supporting said floating housing, operative "means for rotating said pivot means for bodily moving said floating housing universally in a plurality of directions toward and away from said fixed housing for aligning the marking elements in the head of said floating housing with the marking elements in the head of said fixed housing, and means adjacent the opposite end of said floating housing for shifting the floating housing toward and away from said fixed housing for cooperation with said eccentric pivot means in aligning the marking element in said heads.

4. In a marking mechanism for a machine for marking container parts, the combination of a pair of rotatable mar-king heads carrying cooperating marking elements for marking a container part interposed between said heads, a pair of spaced shafts for supporting and rotating said heads, a fixed housing for one of said shafts, a frame support for said housing, said fixed housing being rotatable on said support for swinging said marking heads into an operative position and into an inoperative position, a floating housing disposed adjacent said fixed housing for the other of said shafts in predetermined relation to the shaft in said fixed housing, a pair of eccentric pivot pins carried in said fixed housing for pivotally supporting said floating housing, rocker yokes on said pivot pins, a rotatable eccentric shaft carried by said floating housing and operable in said yokes for rocking said pivot pins to shift said floating housing toward and away from said fixed housing for aligning the marking elements in said heads, a worm wheel carried on said eccentric shaft, and a rotatable worm carried on said floating housing, said worm engaging said worm wheel for rotating said eccentric shaft for the purpose described.

5. In a marking mechanism for a machine for marking container parts, the combination of a pair of rotatable marking heads carrying cooperating marking elements for marking a. container part interposed between said heads, a pair of spaced shafts for supporting and rotating said heads, a fixed housing for supporting one of said shafts, a floating housing for supporting the other of said shafts in predetermined relation to the shaft in said fixed housing, universal joint means carried by said floating housing for supporting said floating housing, and means for shifting said floating housing on its said universal joint means in a plurality of directions relative to said fixed housing for aligning the marking elements in the head in said floating housing with the marking elements in the head of said fixed housing.

6. In a marking mechanism for a machine for marking container parts, the combination of a pair of rotatable marking heads carrying cooperating marking elements for marking a container part interposed between said heads, a pair of spaced shafts for supporting and rotating said heads, a fixed housing for supporting one of said shafts, a floating housing for supporting the other of said shafts in a predetermined relation to the shaft in said fixed housing, universal joint means carried by said floating housing for supporting the same, and a pair of eccentric elements secured in said fixed housing and disposed on opposite sides of said floating housing for shifting said floating housing laterally relative to said fixed housing for aligning the marking elements in the head of said floating housing with the marking elements in the head of said fixed housing.

'7. In a marking mechanism for a machine for marking container parts, the combination of a pair of rotatable marking heads having cooperating marking elements for marking a container part interposed between said heads, a pair of spaced shafts for supporting and rotating said heads, a fixed housing for supporting one of said shafts, a floating housing for supporting the other of said shafts, a pair of eccentric pivot pins carried by said fixed housing for pivotally supporting said floating housing, rocker yokes on said pivot pins, and a rotatable eccentric shaft carried by said floating housing and operable in said yokes for rocking said pivot pins to shift said floating housing toward and away from said fixed housing for aligning the marking elements in said heads.

8. In a marking mechanism for a machine for marking container parts, the combination of a pair of rotatable marking heads having cooperating marking elements for marking a container part interposed between said heads, a, pair of spaced shafts for supporting and rotating said heads, a fixed housing for supporting one of said shafts, a movable housing for supporting the other of said shafts, a pair of rotatable eccentric pivot pins carried by said fixed housing for pivotally supporting said movable housing, and rotatable means carried in said movable housing and operatively connected to said pivot pins for rotating the same to shift said pivotal mounting of the movable housing to align the marking elements in said heads.

9. In a marking mechanism for a machine for marking container parts, the combination of a pair of rotatable marking heads having cooperating marking elements for marking a container part interposed between said heads, a pair of spaced shafts for supporting and rotating said heads, a fixed housing for supporting one of said shafts, a movable housing pivotally mounted on said fixed housing for supporting the other of said shafts, and a screw threaded in said movable housing having a tapered portion engaging a projection on said fixed housing, the rotation of said screw in opposite directions shifting said movable housing on its pivotal mounting toward and away from said fixed housing to vary the distance between the marking elements on said heads.

10. In a marking mechanism for a machine for marking container parts, the combination of a pair of rotatable marking heads carrying cooperating marking elements for marking a container part interposed between said heads, a pair of spaced shafts for supporting and rotating said heads, a fixed housing for supporting one of said shafts, a floating housing pivotally mounted on said fixed housing for supporting the other of said shafts, means for movably adjusting said floating housing on its pivotal mounting relative to said fixed housing in a plurality of directions, and selfaligning bearing members mounted between said housings to compensate for such movable adjustment of said floating housing in a plurality of directions relative to said fixed housing for aligning the marking elements in the head of said floating housing with the marking elements in the head of said fixed housing.

11. In a marking mechanism for a machine for marking container parts, the combination of a pair of rotatable marking heads carrying cooperting marking elements for marking a container part interposed between said heads, a pair of spaced shafts for supporting and rotating said heads, means for individually supporting said shafts, means for rotating said shafts in unison,

10 and means fixed on one of said shafts and having a movable ofiset part engaging said shaft rotating means, said oflset part being adapted when moved to rotatively adjust said one shaft and its marking head relative to the other shaft and its marking head.

RONALD E. J. NORDQUIST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

